According to one report, the Houston quarterback has chosen the former route, at least for now.

Citing a person familiar with the situation, the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the school is putting together the necessary paperwork to file an appeal with the NCAA on Keenum’s behalf for a sixth season of eligibility. If the medical waiver is cleared — and it’s far from a slam dunk that it will be — Keenum would be afforded the opportunity to surpass the NCAA record for career passing yardage, a mark that was well within his reach before the Sept. 29 injury.

The Chronicle notes that there’s no specific timeline for UH to file an appeal or for the NCAA to rule on it, but there is a deadline that must be taken into consideration.

Draft-eligible players have until the middle of January to officially file paperwork declaring themselves for the April draft. If a decision isn’t handed down by early next year, Keenum could be faced with a tough decision: either take the chance the NCAA will rule in his favor and bypass the draft deadline, or protect himself by making the jump to the NFL.

Of course, given the labor strife in the sport, there’s no guarantee that professional football will even be played next season anyway.

For all involved, though, here’s hoping that the normally tortoise-like pace of the NCAA is picked up just a bit due to the unique circumstances of this case.

It’s a NO BRAINER: appeal. It would be stupid of him to NOT appeal, declare for the draft and then NFL not have a season and he spends a whole year sitting around impressing no one. Yes, he could withdraw but then he risks not getting the extra year and sitting around. If he goes for the extra year and gets it, he can still declare for the draft and withdraw and have a road back to playing next year. Also, IF there’s a new deal, this year or next, it won’t matter whether he goes in the draft in 2010 or 2011.

NJTrojan says:Oct 11, 2010 6:31 PM

i never understand what the NCAA does on a daily basis that makes it so difficult to rule on a case like this in a timely manner. I mean really, what do they do each day? Once you have gathered the facts (takes a few weeks), then make a decision (one week?). The disservice they do to these kids is sickening.